Strawberry plant named ‘Twist’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Strawberry plant named ‘Twist’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; early flowering habit; early and uniform fruit ripening; large conical fruits that are glossy and reddish orange in color; pleasant fruit aroma and sweet taste; and excellent fruit postharvest longevity.

Botanical designation: Fragaria x ananassa.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TWIST’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Fresh Forward Holding B.V. ofEck en Wiel, The Netherlands on May 20, 2020, application number2020/1263. Foreign priority is claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orApplicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior artexception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior tothe filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filingdate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofStrawberry plant, botanically known as Fragaria x ananassa andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Twist’.

The new Strawberry plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Eck en Wiel, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program was to develop new Strawberry plants with goodfruit quality, ease of harvesting, high yield, large attractive fruitsand good postharvest longevity.

The new Strawberry plant originated from a cross-pollination by theInventor in March, 2013 in Eck en Wiel, The Netherlands of a proprietaryselection of Fragaria x ananassa identified as code number E2008-001,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Fragaria x ananassa identified as code number E2010-411,not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Strawberry plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Eck en Wiel, The Netherlands in June, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Strawberry plant by runner cuttings in acontrolled environment at Eck en Wiel, The Netherlands since September,2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Strawberry plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Strawberry have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Twist’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Twist’ as a new and distinct Strawberry plant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.    -   3. Early flowering habit.    -   4. Early and uniform fruit ripening.    -   5. Large conical fruits that are glossy and reddish orange in        color.    -   6. Pleasant fruit aroma and sweet taste.    -   7. Excellent fruit postharvest longevity.

Plants of the new Strawberry differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Strawberry are more upright than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are conical in shape        whereas fruits of plants of the female parent selection are        cylindrical to rhomboidal in shape.    -   3. With relation to their position to the fruits, sepals of        plants of the new Strawberry are positioned outwardly whereas        sepals of plants of the female parent selection are positioned        more upright.

Plants of the new Strawberry differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Strawberry are more upright than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are conical in shape        whereas fruits of plants of the male parent selection are        cylindrical to rhomboidal in shape.    -   3. With relation to their position to the fruits, sepals of        plants of the new Strawberry are positioned outwardly whereas        sepals of plants of the male parent selection are positioned        more upright.

Plants of the new Strawberry can be compared to plants of Fragaria L.‘Flair’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,162. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Strawberry differ primarily from plantsof ‘Flair’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Strawberry are stronger and more vigorous        than plants of ‘Flair’.    -   2. Flower peduncles of plants of the new Strawberry are longer        than flower peduncles of plants of ‘Flair’.    -   3. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are lighter red in        color than fruits of plants of ‘Flair’.    -   4. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are conical in shape        whereas fruits of plants of ‘Flair’ are long conical to rounded        cordate in shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Strawberry plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Strawberry plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view oftypical fruiting plants of ‘Twist’ grown in a greenhouse environment.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view oftypical flowers of plants of ‘Twist’.

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3) is a close-up view of typicaldeveloping and developed fruits of plants of ‘Twist’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown inbeds and plants grown in 2.5-liter containers with two plants percontainer during the winter and spring in a glass-covered greenhouse inHuissen, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical ofcommercial Strawberry production. During the production of the plants,day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 25° C. and night temperaturesranged from 8° C. to 12° C. Plants were one year old when thephotographs and the description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Fragaria x ananassa ‘Twist’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Fragaria x            ananassa identified as code designation E2008-001, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Fragaria x            ananassa identified as code designation E2010-411, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By runner cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one to four days at            soil temperatures about 15° C. and ambient temperatures            about 17° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About two to            three weeks at soil temperatures about 15° C. to 20° C. and            ambient temperatures about 17° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            cream to white in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial; compact, upright plant            habit; leaves basal; moderately vigorous growth habit; rapid            growth rate; density of foliage, medium.        -   Plant height.—About 30 cm to 35 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 35 cm to 40 cm.        -   Stolon texture.—Sparsely pubescent.        -   Stolon color.—Close to 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement and appearance.—Basal rosette; compound with            typically three leaflets per leaf; leaflets are not            variegated and typically without anthocyanin when grown            under normal and healthy growing conditions; blistering has            not been observed.        -   Leaflet length.—About 12 cm to 15 cm.        -   Leaflet width.—About 9 cm to 14 cm.        -   Leaflet shape.—Broadly ovate; terminal leaflet concave in            cross-section.        -   Leaflet apex.—Obtuse to acute.        -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate to obtuse.        -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate.        -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Pubescent;            slightly glossy.        -   Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Pubescent; matte.        -   Leaflet venation.—Pinnate.        -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to            137A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 138A.            Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to between            137A and 139A; venation, close to 144C. Fully expanded            leaflets, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation, close to            144C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 15 cm to 30 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm            to 6 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; hairs            orientated upright from petiole axis. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 145A.        -   Stipules.—Length: Medium. Color: Light green becoming darker            green with development.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower form and flowering habit.—Rotate flowers arranged            singly at lateral apices; flowers held upright and at or            below the foliar plane; flowers are self-fertile; about 22            to 27 flowers develop per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit; in the            greenhouse, plants flower in late February into March and in            outdoor production, plants flower in late April/early May in            The Netherlands.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm to 4 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 4 mm to 8 mm.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of six petals; petals            separate and not imbricate. Length: About 6 mm to 10 mm.            Width: About 8 mm to 12 mm. Shape: Round to broadly ovate.            Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155D;            color does not change with subsequent development. When            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155D;            color does not change with subsequent development.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement and calyx description: Single whorl of            ten to twelve sepals; calyx, star-shaped; calyx adherence is            strong and inserted; sepals are orientated upright; calyx            diameter is smaller than fruit diameter. Calyx length: About            1.5 cm to 2 cm. Calyx diameter: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Shape:            Lanceolate to ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm to 12 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm            to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent; hairs            orientated upright from pedicel axis. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 25            to 30. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate            to elliptic. Anther color: Close to 4B. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 12B. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: About 30. Pistil length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Stigma            shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 5A. Fruits: Quantity            per truss: About five to ten; fruits are relatively large.            Time to harvest: Early fruit ripening, fruits; fruits are            ready to harvest in April to early May on plants grown under            greenhouse conditions; fruit bearing is non-remontant.            Postharvest longevity: About ten days at 7° C. Length: About            2 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Shape: Conical.            Fruit weight per fruit, first quality: About 23.8 g. Fruit            weight per plant, first quality: About 470 g. Firmness:            Firm. Fragrance, taste: Pleasant; good balance between            sweetness and acidity; nice aroma. Degrees brix: About 8.8            under greenhouse production conditions. Luster: Uniformly            glossy. Surface unevenness: Mostly smooth; primary fruits            are slightly more grooved than secondary fruits. Color,            surface: Close to 40A. Color, flesh: Close to 35B; towards            the center, close to 155C and center, close to 35B. Achene            quantity: About 200 to 300 per fruit. Achene position: Level            to slightly above the fruit surface. Achene weight: About            0.0005 g to 0.0006 g. Achene color: Close to 1B. Band width            without achenes: Narrow, barely visible. Depth of core            cavity: Small to medium.-   Pathogen and pest resistance: Plants of the new Strawberry have been    observed to be resistant to Phytophthora cactorum, Sphaerotheca    macularis and Verticillium dahliae. To date, plants of the new    Strawberry have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other    pathogens common to Strawberry plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Strawberry plant named ‘Twist’ asillustrated and described.